Nigel Clough hails Burton performance as Bolton win boosts survival bid

Posted Sunday, April 29, 2018 by PA

Nigel Clough praised his Burton side’s spirit as a 2-0 win over relegation rivals Bolton kept their survival hopes alive.

First-half goals from Hope Akpan and Lucas Akins saw the Brewers make it three wins on the bounce and move above their opponents – although they remain in the bottom three going into the final week.

Former Blackburn man Akpan drilled home his first of the season after 26 minutes following excellent hold-up play from Liam Boyce, before teeing up Akins for a close-range effort eight minutes later.

Albion could have won by more but second-half chances from ex-Wanderers striker Marvin Sordell and Luke Murphy went begging.

“That was good a performance as we have had at home” said Clough.

“Other games we didn’t quite get the breaks in but today we scored two very good, but different, goals.

“Then we defended as we had to defend today. I just wish one of those chances around the 70th-minute mark had gone in today.

“Two great chances from Marv (Sordell) and Luke Murphy and if one of those goes in it would have been a more comfortable last 20 minutes.”

“We have given ourselves a chance and we know what we need to do next week now. We can’t afford to lose now or else we are down. We have to go with the same sort of attitude that we showed today.”

“We have got ourselves down to the last day and there are a few other teams in it now.

“It would have been nice to be out of the bottom three but with Barnsley winning means we are still in that third place – but you only need to be out of it on the last day.”

Bolton boss Phil Parkinson felt let down by his side as they slipped to second bottom of the table on the back of a run of one point from seven games which now leaves their Championship fate out of their own hands going into the final weekend of the season.

The Trotters started well but faded badly after conceding two goals in eight minutes, and must now beat Nottingham Forest next weekend.

“I thought we started OK,” Parkinson said. “It was pretty even up to the goal but the two goals are soft and Burton grew 10 foot tall after that.

“They were first to every ball. They were more physical than us and they did all the horrible things in football better than us and the goals knocked the stuffing out of us.

“I am hugely disappointed with the performance today and I feel for our fans coming down in their numbers because that performance wasn’t good enough.”

“The supporters are hurting but it is hurting me as well. We went down with a whimper today and I have always defended the lads as much as possible but there wasn’t enough out there today to get us back into the game.”